Maybe I’m an anomaly, maybe I’m not. But if Mormons had Priests like Catholics had Priests, my life would’ve started differently past High School. Lots of speculation to be had, but I’ve also known since I was in Kindergarten that I wanted to be a Soldier. THAT, I accomplished. I was a Fire Team Leader in Iraq during the ground war.
There’s always been the precarious line where I wanted to be both a Soldier AND a Priest. But a priest with actual ability/power. I wasn’t exposed to DnD or similar growing up at all. My first experience was with RPG games and it never occurred to me that one could be both.
The achievement of one does not discontinue the other. But the spiritual side takes much, much longer, I’ve found.
Paladins, by the majority lore, combine both martial prowess and another Divine or similar power. There are paladins that serve the opposite, typically called “Fallen” in the RHP/LHP Divine/Corrupt fashion. Given our collective opinions on “pure”, that leaves a wide latitude indeed.
It does lessen what I’ve noticed. I’ve tended towards Natural, Holistic methods. I’ve also founded a strong bond towards Entities that could act as “Divine” sources, depending on your point of view. I’ve curated these relationships and added the lessons/powers/energies/abilities to act in a similar fashion as a Paladin, whether of the Light or the Dark. And, during this process, which continues, I have found myself in numerous conflicts, defending others that largely couldn’t defend themselves or couldn’t adequately – some with names people would recognize as leaders or mentors in the various places I have posted work or opinions in social spheres.
Now, I finally seem to have found a culmination between the two in Magical Taoism. I am going through the lessons genuinely, altering as little as necessary. I want the experience of it. Having a robust, established energetic practice, I see a lot or parallels in some things. Yet, I still do the Day 1 exercise as I do the Month X ones.
The parallels are not lost on me. I have been the Bulwark of many over the years. Not just with the Occult. I suspect I will again. Many times. I’ve been called on by spirits to do this as well as people, for people I don’t know and have never met.
There are few people I’ve bulwarked that are still around. The spirits still are. And, as is my fashion, I will continue to answer their call – short or long. We don’t always know how long our callings will last – if we accept them to begin with.
I am not Invincible. While I continue to rise and I am asked to serve as such, does it matter?
